The Twitter account of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has mysteriously vanished from the platform, leaving its 2.2 million followers confused and concerned. As of Wednesday, the handle @officialEFCC displayed a message stating, “This account doesn’t exist.”
Sources say the agency’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) department has been working tirelessly for the past three days to restore the account.
The timing of the account’s disappearance is particularly notable, following recent threats of cyber warfare from suspected internet fraudsters.
These threats emerged on platforms like Reddit and other forums, where the fraudsters accused the EFCC of extortion and violations of constitutional rights. The threats appear to be a reaction to the EFCC’s aggressive measures against online fraud.
In recent months, the EFCC has stepped up its efforts to combat internet fraud, conducting raids on hotels and universities believed to be involved in fraudulent activities.
The EFCC‘s intensified crackdown on online fraud has not been without controversy. Human rights advocates have criticized the agency’s tactics, particularly its use of midnight raids, which continued even after a ban was issued by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede. Critics argue that these raids, often carried out in a heavy-handed manner, infringe on individuals’ rights and disrupt their lives.
Despite the disappearance of the EFCC’s Twitter account, its website and other social media accounts remain unaffected as of Thursday morning. The agency has yet to provide further details on whether the account’s removal was due to cyber threats or a possible violation of X’s (formerly Twitter) policies.
